Coffee Memorial Blood Center introduces their
2007 HONORARY AMBASSADOR FAMILY – the Garcias!
As a neonatal intensive care nurse, I am no stranger to lives
hanging in the balance. I am also very experienced at giving
blood and blood products to my patients. I never dreamed I'd
be on the receiving end one day.
I was pregnant with my fourth child and everything was
going well until I reached about 30-31 weeks. My blood
pressure began to rise. By 33 weeks, my blood pressure was
extremely high. I was losing protein and my swelling was
getting worse. On May 23, my doctor admitted me to the
hospital and placed me on strict bed rest. By nighttime, my
laboratory values were changing and my doctor decided to
do an emergency c-section. My daughter was born at
12:31 on the morning of May 24, 2006. She only weighed
4 lbs., 10 oz. and was taken directly to the neonatal
intensive care unit. She was doing fine, requiring oxygen
less than 24 hours. She ate well and continued to gain
weight until she was discharged only 3 weeks later.
I, on the other hand, began to have rare but serious
complications a few hours after delivery. I went into HELLP
syndrome--an obstetric complication characterized by
Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzyme levels and a Low Platelet
count. An abdominal ultrasound revealed a large
hematoma around my liver, and my blood counts took a
critical fall. I was taken to the surgical intensive care unit
and prepared for surgery. Before I made it to surgery,
my liver ruptured. I was losing blood as fast as they
could replace it. If they couldn't stop the bleeding
soon, I was going to die.
 | 
The Garcias -- Kayla, Benny, Leah, Tana, Lauren and Parker
|
After several surgeries and more than 100 units of
blood and blood components, the bleeding finally
ceased. My blood counts slowly began to return to
normal. Upon hearing the emergency plea for a
young mother of four in desperate need of blood,
donors lined up at Coffee Memorial Blood Center
and its mobile sites. Churches all across the
country put me on their prayer lists and my
family was holding out for a miracle.
After four weeks in the hospital, I returned
home. The power of prayer, the awesome
medical team at Northwest Texas Hospital,
and the donations to Coffee Memorial Blood
Center saved my life! Thank you so much!
Become a volunteer blood donor. Save a life.
